Ixir 



INTFRRF,T,ATI0N9 OF GKiNFRA. 



tooth ia in the two related genera quite small, the former nidi- 

 mentary and almost functionless), p^is enlarged and moved forward 

 flosely behind the canines, i^ is lost (as in Nesoyiyctcris), and i' is 

 deciduous ; the extremity (premaxillary portion) of the rostrum is 

 elongated, the corresponding portion of the lower jaw peculiarly 

 hroadened, and the premaxillse solidly united in front ; the claw of 

 the second finger has disappeared (as in Nesonycteris) and even the 

 claw phalanx is reduced in size, and the wings arise from the 

 spinal line of the back, which is therefore covered by the naked 

 membranes. 



The Macror/lossimv (seven genera, with twelve sjiecies or twenty 

 forms) are essentially Austro- and Indo-Malayan in distribution ; 

 one genus (Macror/lossvs) extends westward into the Indo-Chinese 

 subregion, another {Notopterls) is peculiar to Western Polynesia, a 

 third (Si^coin/cteris) extends southward to Australia ; and one genus 

 {Megaloglossus) is confined to West Africa. The subjoined diagram 

 (fig. V.) illustrates the probable interrelations of the genera. 



V.' 



o iB 



Macroglossus Syconyctsris 



u §. Megaloglossus 



Notopteris 



Fio. V. — Interrelations of the genera of tlie subfamily MacrogloasiiKP. 



As pointed out above, this subfamily falls into two natural sec- 

 tions, the Eonyctcrine and Notopterine. Tlie less shortened infra- 

 orbital canal and broad upper extremities of the premaxillas in all 

 Notopterine genera, and the ]iresence of a long tail in one genus 

 of the same section, all primitive characf.ers lost in all other Fruit- 

 bats, are evidence that the Macrof/Iossime as a whole, in spite of 

 the often very high specialization in other directions of the living 

 genera, are of slightly lower origin than the Pteropodincp (see 

 fig. VI., next page). 



